As coaches go, John Kavanagh really hit the jackpot with his ward Conor McGregor.

I mean, just say the words “Conor McGregor” and the money starts flying in.

Unfortunately, with McGregor so filthy rich that he doesn’t need to even think about talking to the media anymore, if we want insight into the Irishman’s world, we have to get it from Kavanagh.

Which is fine, it’s not like Kavanagh is delusional, like, say, Ronda Rousey coach, Edmond Tarverdyan. And anyway, he has some interesting things to say about the impending fight between interim champ Tony Ferguson and Khabib Nurmagomedov.

“Neither really has high level striking, so it’s going to be a grappling match. I think a lot of it will be played with Khabib on top, and I think he wins a decision. I think it goes the five rounds, I think it’s a decision to Khabib.”

The SBG head coach believes there is a “high risk” that the fight will not happen due to Nurmagomedov’s history with injuries.

“I do think there is a really high risk of it not happening. It’s been scheduled twice and it has not happened twice,” he said.

“It’s very impressive what Khabib can do when he is fighting, just that pace he has and the relentless pressure, but it does require you to train in a certain way that brings on injuries. There is a reason why he is averaging one fight or less over the last couple of years because of multiple surgeries and so on.

“He’s got a lot of miles on the athletic clock. I would almost see as there being a high likelihood of one pulling out before the fight happens.”